Thunderstruck
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Thunderstruck
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Narrated by:
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Bob Balaban
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Written by:
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Erik Larson
About this listen
Set in Edwardian London and on the stormy coasts of Cornwall, Cape Cod, and Nova Scotia, Thunderstruck evokes the dynamism of those years when great shipping companies competed to build the biggest, fastest ocean liners; scientific advances dazzled the public with visions of a world transformed; and the rich outdid one another with ostentatious displays of wealth. Against this background, Marconi races against incredible odds and relentless skepticism to perfect his invention: the wireless, a prime catalyst for the emergence of the world we know today. Meanwhile, Crippen, "the kindest of men", nearly commits the perfect crime.
With his superb narrative skills, Erik Larson guides these parallel narratives toward a relentlessly suspenseful meeting on the waters of the North Atlantic. Along the way, he tells of a sad and tragic love affair that was described on the front pages of newspapers around the world, a chief inspector who found himself strangely sympathetic to the killer and his lover, and a driven and compelling inventor who transformed the way we communicate.
Thunderstruck presents a vibrant portrait of an era of séances, science, and fog, inhabited by inventors, magicians, and Scotland Yard detectives, all presided over by the amiable and fun-loving Edward VII as the world slid inevitably toward the first great war of the 20th century.
Gripping from the start, and rich with fascinating detail about the time, the people, and the new inventions that connect and divide us, Thunderstruck is splendid narrative history from a master of the form.
©2006 Erik Larson (P)2006 Random House, Inc.What the critics say
"Larson has a knack for creating genuine suspense in his writing, and his latest is thoroughly enthralling." (Booklist)
"Splendid, beautifully written.... Thunderstruck triumphantly resurrects the spirit of another age." (Publishers Weekly)
What listeners say about Thunderstruck
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- LK
- 2022-11-27
Thunderstruck
The title of this novel is somewhat deceiving as much more happens than lightning strikes. The murder story is as captivating as is Marconi’s endless search for an understanding of the elusive airwaves referred to as wireless communication. Being uneducated Marconi depended on other educated physicists and engineers to make adjustments to the apparatus settings. He was unfortunately ill suited for the discussions required to facilitate collaboration. He was young with no one to guide him through the mazes surrounding scientific experiments.
The story of the discovery of wireless communication is intriguing. As a Canadian the history of Marconi’s attempt to setup a network on the harsh North coast of Nova Scotia reminds me of early trips to that area seeing a sign indicating the area where he and a colleague hung onto balloons as a wicked storm raged.
Congratulations to both the author and the narrator of this masterpiece.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jean-Claude Cloutier
- 2024-03-19
Riveting!
Once again Larson succeeds in writing a truly remarkable book of historical facts and turning it into a great novel. His research is a testament to his extraordinary commitment to write accurately about his protagonists and the verified story he guides us through.
Entertaining,educational and informative while still keeping us turning page after page of a suspenseful drama.
Absolutely brilliant!
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Heather
- 2022-05-30
Larson's weakest, made weaker by poor narration
I've read all of Larson's works and this one is unfortunately my least favourite. The story suffers from poor pacing, in which the seemingly disparate storylines are not united until the final act, and Balaban's narration does not help to build interest or suspense. His cadence is stilted and inflects certain lines as though they were questions when they are not, and his bland reading does little to draw attention to Larson's clues and foreshadowing that would have made it a more engaging listen. If you are new to Larson's work, don't start with this audiobook.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Roberta W
- 2022-12-01
Great mix
What a creative way to weave together three stories. Exceptionally well done. Lots of suspense!
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